MADURAI: Founder-president of Dalit outfit Devendrakula Vellalar Federation, Pasupathi Pandian, 50, met a gory end on Tuesday night when a four-member gang slit his throat at his house near Dindigul. He died on the spot.
His murder sparked sporadic violence in areas of Madurai and Tirunelveli.
According to a police source, Pandian, usually accompanied by his supporters, was sitting alone in front of his house, when around 8.30 pm a gang sneaked up from the back, caught hold of him and slit his throat.“We can’t pinpoint any particular gang at this juncture. Fifteen special teams have been formed to nab the killers,” said the source. DIG Rajesh Das visited the spot. Considering the influence Pandian wielded in a few southern pockets, the district administration and police swung into action to contain the violence. Already, five buses were attacked in Madurai city.